Lab results with 231 unit drop in CD4 over a month..

[Bearcub201]

Hi all,
I'm freaking out a little bit, my blood work just came back with a 231 unit drop in CD4 numbers. Anybody familiar with acute infections? I started Atripla on March 12, 2012.

Negative test on January 6, 2012
Infected in February 2012,
Tested positive on March 9, 2012


3/9/12
CD4 827 @ 18%
CD8 2850 @ 62%
CD4/CD8 ratio .29
Viral Load 2,716,287

4/10/12
CD4 596 @ 22%
CD8 1383 @ 51%
CD4/CD8 ratio .43
Viral Load 26,134
                          Viral Log 4,417

[drewm]

Hi all,
I'm freaking out a little bit, my blood work just came back with a 231 unit drop in CD4 numbers. Anybody familiar with acute infections? I started Atripla on March 12, 2012.

Negative test on January 6, 2012
Infected in February 2012,
Tested positive on March 9, 2012


3/9/12
CD4 827 @ 18%
CD8 2850 @ 62%
CD4/CD8 ratio .29
Viral Load 2,716,287

4/10/12
CD4 596 @ 22%
CD8 1383 @ 51%
CD4/CD8 ratio .43
Viral Load 26,134
                          Viral Log 4,417

Others will come along with some more in depth analysis but generally speaking the CD4 drop is not that significant. Your VL number is fabulous after a month on meds! Hang in there!

[Bearcub201]

That's reassuring, drewm. 
I've been doing a lot of reading over the past month or so and just haven't really come across much information regarding my circumstances of new infection and starting Atripla so rapidly.  It's been a roller coaster of side effects as well as a very big life adjustment as I'm sure most readers here will know...
My partner has been tested and is negative as of late March, 

I look forward to understanding more about HIV and treatment strategies.

[tednlou2]

Wow.  That is an amazing drop in viral load.  These meds are really nothing less than miraculous.  Were you ready to hit the virus early, or did your doc push you to start?  Doesn't matter...just curious. 

Your CD4% is up, which is the more stable number over time.  Your absolute CD4 could have lowered for any number of reasons--a cold, allergies, time of day you gave blood, stress, etc.  I would expect your CD4 to increase next time, especially starting meds so soon.  Your CD8 is down, which should mean less inflammation happening. 

I've been reading so much about how HIV in the longterm creates "holes" in our immune system, even if a longterm survivor has excellent numbers.  Perhaps going on meds so soon will help to prevent some of these "holes" I've been reading about.  Keep in touch and all the best.

[Rev. Moon]

Others will come along with some more in depth analysis but generally speaking the CD4 drop is not that significant. Your VL number is fabulous after a month on meds

Correct.  Also, as noted by Tedderz, the CD4 % has experienced some improvement.  This value is more significant over time (when it comes to living with HIV trends matter more than individual readings/results). Your infection is very new, and you chose to start therapy while you were still dealing with the acute phase (hence the very high initial viral load, which has nonetheless shown a dramatic --and fantastic-- decrease).  You are on the right track, my dear.

Welcome to the forums 

[newt]

the CD4 % has experienced some improvement.  This value is more significant over time

To my reading, the two CD4% nos are basically the same. As Rev points out it is the trend that counts.

These are good results, wouldn't worry about the CD4 count drop.

- matt

[Bearcub201]

Hi All,
   So I just finished my economics homework and read the replies! I'm really excited and happy that these labs are showing good signs, I've been reading a lot in the past few weeks and there is so much to absorb. I'm up to it!

Wow.  That is an amazing drop in viral load.  These meds are really nothing less than miraculous.  Were you ready to hit the virus early, or did your doc push you to start?  Doesn't matter...just curious. 

It was a combination of both actually, I was still in shock and I really wanted to do what my Dr. thought best, he tells me he has some (a lot of) experience with HIV and he has a colleague at the clinic who is an HIV specialist since the 80's.

I'll graph everything with the CD4% when I get some more data in July.

--Mike--

[Atripla_User]

Thats terrible that you know exactly when you were infected, especially since you were negetive the month before. WOW that really sucks. You seem to be dealing with it well.

[Bearcub201]

Thats terrible that you know exactly when you were infected, especially since you were negetive the month before. WOW that really sucks. You seem to be dealing with it well.

I'm trying really hard to adjust.. It's certainly been difficult and my partner has been amazingly helpful. The guy who gave it to me knew he was newly positive and knew his viral load was super high and didn't disclose... I take responsibility for my actions and just want to make certain I don't pass it along carelessly like it was to me.

On a lighter note, I told my boss about my status and she was very calm and so sensitive with her responses. All my coworkers have been worried about me as I was at home for a week during the acute infection phase and I am still getting mad over little things a lot. I'm still worried that there will be fallout from my disclosure but oddly enough, she told me she has forwarded paperwork to the owner to approve a raise..?!?!?!? It was such an unexpected response that I don't even care to speculate much about the full meaning.
I'm really glad I'm feeling better physically. I ride my bicycle often, 4.8 miles to and from work, as well as a 10 mile ride once a week or so. My partner and I want to lose weight and be healthier, it's working 

Anyhow, I think I may be getting past the most annoying side effects of Atripla, other than the detached feeling I have after taking it. Is that going to go away? I'm always still groggy when I get up for work at 5:00 am and I take it at 8:20..

---Mike

[tednlou2]

A pay raise?  Things couldn't have gone better, because we've heard some bad stories of employers/coworkers treating them negatively.  So, that's awesome. 

It is good you want to make sure you protect your partner.  Being on meds will definitely help with that.  I think more and more how I'm not factoring in the risk to my partner enough, when considering when to begin meds.  We have protected anal sex (when that rarely happens), but I still worry.  He recently got a physical for the fire dept and many of his labs were off.  It sent a chill through my body thinking of the possibility of him becoming infected.  I'm trying to convince him to have another HIV test, but he doesn't feel it is necessary, since we have safe (safer) sex.  So, being on meds would lessen those fears and feeling I did everything I could to protect him.   

[elf]

I'm trying really hard to adjust.. It's certainly been difficult and my partner has been amazingly helpful. The guy who gave it to me knew he was newly positive and knew his viral load was super high and didn't disclose... I take responsibility for my actions and just want to make certain I don't pass it along carelessly like it was to me.

On a lighter note, I told my boss about my status and she was very calm and so sensitive with her responses. All my coworkers have been worried about me as I was at home for a week during the acute infection phase and I am still getting mad over little things a lot. I'm still worried that there will be fallout from my disclosure but oddly enough, she told me she has forwarded paperwork to the owner to approve a raise..?!?!?!? It was such an unexpected response that I don't even care to speculate much about the full meaning.
I'm really glad I'm feeling better physically. I ride my bicycle often, 4.8 miles to and from work, as well as a 10 mile ride once a week or so. My partner and I want to lose weight and be healthier, it's working 

Anyhow, I think I may be getting past the most annoying side effects of Atripla, other than the detached feeling I have after taking it. Is that going to go away? I'm always still groggy when I get up for work at 5:00 am and I take it at 8:20..

---Mike

Atripla should be taken on an empty stomach (at least 2-3 hours after your last meal) to minimize the ''drunkenness'' effect. Even orange juice can be problematic in my case (I'm taking Sustiva which is a part of Atripla)...But the effect is not that bad.  I guess some HIVnegative people would even pay for it.
Being drunk without having spent a dollar on booze. 
Sometimes it gives me laughter attacks (no wonder it makes marijuana urin tests positive  )
I take it at 1:00 am (before going to sleep)...And I get up at 7.00 am.

 
I haven't had any nightmares.
I take a 5 mg melatonin pill normally, but sometimes I forget to take it. 

PS
Your infection history is similar to mine.   
But at least we opted for a prompt treatment.
I wish you all the best, and high CD4 numbers. 

[Bearcub201]

Atripla...
Sometimes it gives me laughter attacks (no wonder it makes marijuana urin tests positive  )

PS
Your infection history is similar to mine.   
But at least we opted for a prompt treatment.
I wish you all the best, and high CD4 numbers. 

I have been putting my pills off a bit later and it seems to help :-)

Also, fits of laughter are fine and all, it's the fits of rage that worry me... perhaps I'm still mad and such about the whole situation.
I sure hope a cure is possible, HIV has been researched for a long time without it...... ........   ... ......

--Mike